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Ward's Reports Estimated Production

13 November 1998

Ward's Reports Estimated Production

    SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Nov. 13 -- Vehicle production this week in
the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 306,872 units,
down from the 366,540 cars and trucks built a week ago, according to Ward's
Automotive Reports.
    Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now
totals 13,947,725 vehicles, down 1.4 percent from like-1997's pace.
    In the U.S., automakers are expected to produce 219,043 vehicles this
week, down 20.6 percent from the 275,863 cars and trucks built last week.  To
date, calendar 1998 U.S. vehicle output totals an estimated 10,538,502 units,
down 2.0 percent from the 10,748,267 vehicles built in like-1997.
    This week's Canadian vehicle production is estimated at 59,665, a 7.3
percent decrease from the 64,388 units assembled a week ago.  Estimated
calendar-1998 Canadian vehicle production now stands at 2,219,046 units, off
2.6 percent from the 2,279,287 vehicles produced in like-1997.
    Of the cars and trucks slated for production this week in the U.S.,
General Motors Corp. accounted for 35.8 percent; Ford Motor Co., 25.2 percent;
Chrysler Corp., 13.1 percent; Honda of America Mfg. Inc., 6.2 percent; Toyota
Motor Mfg. Inc., 4.5 percent; New United Motor Mfg. Inc., 3.4 percent; Nissan
Motor Mfg. Corp., 3.2 percent; AutoAlliance International Inc., 1.6 percent;
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc., 2.1 percent; Mitsubishi Motor Mfg. of America
Inc., 1.6 percent; Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc., 0.7 percent;
BMW of North America Inc., 0.5 percent; and other manufacturers, 2.1 percent.

                         NORTH AMERICA FACTORY PRODUCTION

              This Week  Last Week  Same Week  To Date   To Date   Pct. Change
              Estimated   Revised   Last Year   1998      1997   1998 vs. 1997
    U.S.
    Cars        99,055    127,591   130,970  4,898,508  5,288,336       -7.4
    Trucks     119,988    148,272   143,392  5,639,994  5,459,931        3.3
    TOTAL      219,043    275,863   274,362 10,538,502 10,748,267       -2.0
    Canada
    Cars        35,209     37,582    26,633  1,284,315  1,219,484        5.3
    Trucks      24,456     26,806    24,797    934,731  1,059,803      -11.8
    TOTAL       59,665     64,388    51,430  2,219,046  2,279,287       -2.6
    Mexico
    Cars        17,836     17,628    15,371    798,921    699,944       14.1
    Trucks      10,328      8,661     9,396    391,256    422,676       -7.4
    TOTAL       28,164     26,289    24,767  1,190,177  1,122,620        6.0
    U.S.\Canada\Mexico
    Cars       152,100    182,801   172,974  6,981,744  7,207,764       -3.1
    Trucks     154,772    183,739   177,585  6,965,981  6,942,410        0.3
    GRAND      306,872    366,540   350,559 13,947,725 14,150,174       -1.4
    TOTAL

    Note: All figures include medium- and heavy-duty truck production.